Taylor Swift’s song “cardigan” presents Betty’s perspective in the same fictional love triangle as “august.”
The three connected Folklore songs are “cardigan,” “august,” and “betty.” Together they describe Betty, James, and the unnamed girl involved in James’s summer relationship.
“august” follows the other girl’s feelings, while “cardigan” reflects Betty’s perspective after the relationship’s betrayal and aftermath. “betty” shifts to James, who attempts to explain or repair what happened.
The songs are fictional rather than a direct account of Swift’s own romantic life. This distinction is important because Folklore deliberately uses invented characters and imagined story arcs, unlike the autobiographical interpretations often associated with Swift’s earlier songwriting.